Senator Steve Saland (R,C Poughkeepsie) today announced that he has reached out to Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to urge him to investigate the possibility of price gouging in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"I want to encourage the Attorney General to investigate those engaged in supplying and selling petroleum products to New York Consumers," said Senator Steve Saland. "If in fact gouging is discovered the Attorney General would have the authority to take legal action to penalize those engaging in this unconscionable practice."

"I find especially troublesome significant increases in gasoline prices in the immediate aftermath of Katrina," said Senator Saland. "It is logical that this gas was already here making it unconscionable that prices are rising so rapidly. The public needs to know whether these price increases are warranted or if suppliers and/or sellers are taking advantage of the situation and engaging in profiteering."